The Shrine opened on August 15, 1885, and consisted of a wooden cross, a small chapel, and ten acres of land on the crest of a hill in the Mohawk Valley. Today, the shrine has 600-acres of land, and facilities to accommodate thousands of people. Mass is held daily, with confession immediately preceding services. Guided tours of the grounds are available at 10:30am and 2:30 pm Monday through Saturday. Stations of the Cross are available, either on foot or by car.

One can see the grounds of the shrine from the New York State Thruway when driving west. While the shrine is open between the first Sunday in May and the last Sunday in October, the grounds are lit up at night, making the shrine's location even more obvious.